You Have What It Takes To Demonstrate The Art Of Blacksmithing
You Have What It Takes To Demonstrate The Art Of Blacksmithing
Portable Blacksmith Demonstration
I got a call from a fellow blacksmith the other day. He has volunteered to do a public blacksmithing demonstration for the church he attends. As Jeff is a full time farrier, not an artist blacksmith, he was curious if I had some input for his blacksmith demonstration. As Jeff is busy shoeing horses, he does not get the opportunity to blacksmith as much as he would like.
Jeff has seen me demonstrate blacksmith made items in public and liked what he saw. It occured to me that if I could help him with his blacksmithing demonstration, perhaps I could help others as well.
I hope you can pick up a few pointers from me and the way I go about doing artist blacksmithing demonstrations. One way I can improve is by others imput. Therefore, if you can add to my artist blacksmith demonstration experiences, I would love to hear about it.
Blacksmithing Demonstrations
Dewey answering questions
I have been doing public demonstrations in the art of blacksmithing for over 13 years and love it. It is so awesome to be able to educate people while entertaining them at the same time. I take any and every opportunity I get to demonstrate blacksmith made items and I encourage you to do the same.
Do you have what it takes? Of course you do! You probably just don't know it yet. There are only a few qualifications to be a good demonstrator:
One Bad Momma on a 50# Tire Hammer
confidence
knowledge
humor
Yes, that is it. You do not have to be a rocket scientist to play. You just need to have fun.
Do you have the Confidence it takes to be a public demonstrator? Of course you do!
When someone is confident in what he or she is doing it shows. If one is unsure and timid at what he or she is doing, it also shows. Are you more likely to watch confidence or confusion? Granted sometimes confusion is more humerus.
My point is, as you demonstrate for the general public, you more than likely know more about blacksmithing than the crowd you are demonstrating for.
Dewey having fun
You have researched on how to blacksmith and gathered a wealth of information about blacksmithing before you ever swung a hammer. If you haven't, I encourage you to do so.
You will know some of the answers some of the time
You will know most of the answers most of the time
But, you will never know all the answers all the time
There is nothing wrong with telling the crowd that you don't know the answer to their question. I approach it like so, That is a great question, unfortunately you will have to ask me the next time you see me. Usually that gets a chuckle and it dismisses the fact that I didn't know the answer. That gives me time to research the question and be prepared for the next time it is asked, and it will be asked again. See how that works?
Do you have the Knowledge? Of course you do!
You have read a lot of information about blacksmithing. Most of the questions are the same ones over and over.
Fire and Steel
What are you burning in there? (blacksmith coal)
What does cranking the handle do? (induce draft)
How hot is that steel or iron? (ambient air temperature to 2,000)
And of course the repeated question, have you ever been burnt? (you play with fire, you are going to get burnt)
I encourage you to learn as much as you can, whenever and wherever you can.
I watched a blacksmith demonstration in West Amana by Gerald (a fellow blacksmith). It was a very impressive demonstration with a lot of informative information. Not only did it include information about blacksmithing, he also included a wealth of history about the area.
People have a tendency to be shy and not ask questions. I believe one way to hold a crowd is to communicate as much vocally as well as visually while demonstrating the art of blacksmithing. If you do not talk to your spectators, they will not stick around.
Are you a Humorous person? Of course you are!
I am not saying you have to have your crowd "busting a gut" all of the time. This is not a stand up comedy routine, it is a educational blacksmithing demonstration.
By humor, I mean, don't make it a boring lecture. Throw a joke in here and there. For instance, the kid that is very interested and gets to close for comfort to the hot iron. Just reassure mom that if they get burnt it will heal before they get married. That usually gets a chuckle and the child steps back. If not, sum it up with if it don't heal before they get married, they are getting married way to young. Another comeback is, "We do branding".
Excitement breads excitement. If you are excited about what you are doing, people will be excited about watching what you are doing.
You will find that when you brake the ice with people, and make them feel comfortable with you, they will start asking you questions.
Blacksmithing Demonstrations Step One
I would suggest to demonstrate a few small items that you can do rather quickly. If it takes to long, people tend to get restless and move on.
Hand Forged Leaves
I find that leaves are a great item to demonstrate, you can show may different ways to make a leaf. I have been known to take a dozen or more heats on the same leaf to show different detail possibilities. You can keep the same crowd through the one leaf demonstration lasting 15 - 20 minutes, easy.
You Can Do It
Go out and demonstrate the blacksmithing arts
For every time we do this,we are likely to spark the fire in a future blacksmith.
Go out and demonstrate the art of blacksmithing
When we do this in numbers, it will ensure that the art of blacksmithing will never die.
Happy Hammering
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